Key holder



Sept. 2, 1952 s, EFF 2,608,851

KEY HOLDER Filed Nov. 29, 1949 Fi lze-Esl? Ti :1.5.

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A TTOQNEY Patented Sept. 2, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KEY HOLDERY Samuel Leff, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application November 29, 1949, Serial No. 129,965

' 9 claims. (o1. 711-456) This invention relates to key holders. Moreparticularly my invention pertains to key holders ofthe type including aspring which is compressed whenakey is urged to retracted positionwithin a housing, so as to store energy which subsequently is releasedto snap the key to an extended position.

It is an object of my invention `to provide a key holder of thecharacter described which is of such construction that the keyautomatically is latched in retracted position, i. e. latched, withoutmanipulation of any parts.

It is another object of my invention to provide a key 'holder of thecharacterdescribed which is of particularly simple construction an ispositive and reliable in operation.

Other objects of my invention will in part be obvious and in part willbe pointed out hereinafter. i

My inventionaccordingly consists inthe features of construction,combinationsl of elements and arrangements ofparts which will 'beexemplified in the device hereinafter described and of which the scopeof application will beindicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown one of the variouspossible embodiments of myinvention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a key holder constructed in accordance with myinvention, the key being illustrated in retracted position;

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the key holder, the same being takensubstantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are sectional views taken substantially along the lines4-4, 5--5 and 5 6, respectively, of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3- but with the key shown inextended'position; and

Fig. 8 is an exploded view showing the inner surfaces of the two halvesof the key kholder housing.

Referring now in detail to Vthe drawings, the reference numeral I8denotes a key holder ernbodying my invention and comprising a housingI2, a key post I4, a pair of springs I5, I8 and a bridle 20.

The housing I2 preferably is made in two halves 22, 24 (Fig. 8) whichare mirror images of one another so that only one half 22 need bedescribed. The corresponding parts of the other half 24 are denoted bythe same reference numerals primed.

rEhe housingvhalf 22 is fabricated from Some 2, inexpensive material andin accordance with the preferred form of my invention is molded from aplastic material, for example, any one of the well known syntheticplastics such as cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, ethyl cellulosebutyrate, an acrylic resin, styrene, a phenol formaldehyde resin or aurea formaldehyde resin. Due toits simple shape and non-criticaldimensions and to thev absence of above normal temperatures during itsordinary use, I have found it most convenient; to make the housinghalves from a thermoplastic resin by injection molding.

Said housing half 22 constitutes a thin wall-26 of generally oblongshape whose outside surface may, as illustrated, be substantiallyVYflat., although, if desired, any suitable ornamentation therefor canbe included. The Wall is provided with a throughv slot 28 disposedapproximately midway between the two longitudinal edges of the wall. Theside Vedges 30, 32 and inner edge 34 of the housing half 22 areprovidedfwith a rail or flange 36 which, in conjunction with the flange36' on the other half 24, cooperate to denne a thin space between thetwo walls 26, 26 when the housing halves are registered and abutted andthe rails face one another.

One side edge, for example the edge 30, is fashioned with a notch orindentation 38 through which the tang 48 of a key K is adapted to pro.ject when the key is retracted within the key holder in a fashion laterto be described. In

lorder that the tang of the key may be visible and accessible throughthe indentation, the flanges 36, 36' are interrupted at this point. 1

The slot 28 terminates at an outer end 42, located on the longitudinalcenter line on the housing half 22. The inner end 44 of said slot,however, is differently arranged, running into a laterally extendingbranch 46 which slopes at least to a slight extent in a direction backtoward the outer end of the housing, this branch therefore in effectimparting a hook formation to the inner end of the slot on a sideadjacent the notch 38. The tip of this laterally extending branch istransversely offset from the longitudinal and central axis of the longstraight portion ofthe slot by at least slightly more than the width ofthe slot. As a result of the foregoing construction, the outer edge 48of the branch 46 makes an angle of less than with the adjacent edge 49of the slot 28, and an element slidable in the slot can by propermanipulation have more than one half thereof received in the branch.

' On the inside surface of the housing means is provided to locate thesprings I6, I8. These springs constitute elongated spiral coilcompression springs and the locating means therefor includes a pair ofchannels 5B, 52. Said channels are located on opposite sides of the slot28 and run substantially the full length of the halves 22, 24,terminating slightly short of the two ends of the housing. The channel52 which is adjacent the indentation 38 is closer to the inner offsetend 44 of theslot `2.8 than is the other channel 50. Theinn'er ends :ofthe channels 50, 52 constitute seats for the inner ends of the springs.The top ends of the channels are defined by .a slightly raised flat 54whose height is intermediate the height of the wall 26 and the flange36. The heights of the ribs 56 constituting thesides 4of the channels50, 52 are such that the space between the ribs 56, 56' isslightlyinexcess :ofthe' thickness of the key K thereby permitting thetang of the key to slide on and betweensaid ribs.

The key post I4 comprises two parts, each part I'containingone half of arapidly attachable and detachable linterengag'ing means. Thus said post,Aas shown, includes A'a -stub spindle $8 'which desirablyfis of circularcrosssectional-'configuration vhaving 'a diameter `such that the spindlemakes afsli'dingiitwith theslots, 28 and .the reaches K456, S46'. Said'spindle is provided Ywith a lhead i60 vatits 'outside end and .at its`inside end has atappedbore A(i2 'Tinto which a hea'ded'screw -64 isthreadable. 'The-length of'the spindle 'between its head 60 and thehead-of 'the screw lis slightly iin excess of the thickness yof ythehousing, Thus the post 14 Eis ffreely s'lidable ralong the ylength nl''the slots v'118, 128' and `can be fshiftedinto .the o'iset reaches 546.46".

'The-ibridle 2U includes an elongated shan-k fBS which iis' slidabl'einAa cavity denedby opposed indentations y68, 8-8' lying `between jthespring loca tngchannels 156, :52 and 5'0", 52'. The opposite ends 'ofthe'shank are formed into shoes "I0, vT2. whichfhave:cross-sectionssubstantially similar to the crossssectionsiofthe springsl6,1l'8^and'there -foreare adapted to 'ride in the channels 5G, 52..'I'hefshank ,and heads of the bridle -i'lt loosely enough in 'theirchannels to permit :a slight "tilting movement of Ythe bridle, theV-purpose whereof Willibe pointedout hereinafter. `The bridle 'islocated .a't the 'outer vends fof the springs between said springs andfthe -key -post I4.

'The :edge .'14 of the `slot '28 -where1itruns into the inner Send :44of theslot is inclined towardthe edge 2311 of 'the housing 'having theindentation 38, this `#inclination being.quite.gradualV and commencingat :a point -a above the inner end of theedge 2&9. Saidedge V"mat itsinnermost point 'h'iis located closer -`to the edge 3D -of ithe`housingthan either the .edge 44S! of theslot or the :point 'cwhich joins theedges 48, J9.

`lThe :purpose .of vproviding rthe `inner fend -44 -o'f the -slot with aconfguration such as just described fis -to `obtain -an .automaticlatc'liing action when rthe ikey'is moved toretracted position. At suchtime, dueto fthe gradual inclination of Athe fedge 1-4, the key post`does not tend to halt its lin'wardmovement as `it is urged to retractedposiition ibyzmanual :pressure on its `tip T6. When 'the keypost reachesthe innermost point b', the `key ris released. it. then -isnearer totheehannel 52 adjacentv the :indentation 38 than it is `tc the -channelT513 remote 'from said indentation. As a result, fthe yresultant -o' theA'forces exerted by Athe springson thebridle lis located at Aa point onthe side of the key :post away from the reach 46 and, accordingly,lthebrlidle 66 will be slightly tilted in eazdirection toward saidreach. 'Ifhereforawhen pressure on the key is released the bridle will,in addition to urging the key post upwardly, tend to press it sidewaystoward the indentation 38, this action resulting in insuring motion ofthe key post into the hook, i. e. against the edge 48.

To release the key, a iinger is pressed against the portion of a keytang 4U exposed in the indentation 38. This Will force the key post out.from under `the point .c so .that .when vmanual pressure is Yremovedthe fsprings l"-16, .I8 Will snap the key to its projected position.

Inasmuch as the walls 26, 26 are comparatively thin (in the order of g1gof an inch) the outer ends of said walls are somewhat exible so .thatthe pressure with which a person grasps the Aholder when the key isturned sufnces to jexxthe outerends of said walls inwardly enough for.the flats 54, 54', and tips of the ribs 56, 56 which are level with theats, nrmly to engage the shank of the key.

One of the housing halves, e. g. :the` half'l22, `isf-'fashionedwithsockets TB vin the lange 13B .and the other half withI-Pins .V vdesignedto :be re- `Iceived .in saidsockets so .that the halves maybe -properlyregistered. :The halves Acan be Aheld .togetherin any suitable manner,for example .by cementing the halves together or by :autogenouslysealing the same.

Each half is VLformed with .a through 4opening 82 adjacentsitsinner:edge thus providing .an aperture Hfor Ythe reception :of a Ykey chain.

To assemble thekeyholder, the .springs 16,18 are placed .inthe channels4.50, 52 oone-ofthe halves and the :bridle .located above A.the outerends `of .the Vspringsrvvuah its ends 1.0, 12.disposed in said channels.Then the .other :half .o `the housingis placed .over vthe first-housinghalf and the `two halves joined. Thereafter Vthe ,spindle 58 isintroduced into the slot 28 at the end 42 from .one side ni .thelhousing .and .the Yscrew 64 introduced into 'the lslot ,from the:opposite side of the housing, the two ,partsiof the `post beingthreadably engaged.

When it is .desired to 4mount a key, lthe two parts of the post aredisengaged --and the key .tang slipped through the 'outer open end ofthe :housing between the flats 54, v54". The central opening 84 of thekey tang is registered vwith the slots 28,128' near the outer ends 42,42' thereof. 4Then the parts of thepost `are reassembled with thespindle .58 extending through said central opening. At Ithis time thevarious ,parts are in 'the ,position illustrated in Fig. 7.

The present application 'is a continuation-inpart of my copendingapplication for key 'holders -filed 'December :30, 19.48, vSerial No.68,300, now Patent No. v2,490,396 issued December 6,1949.

It thus will be seen that I fhave Yprovided adevice which achieves. allthe objects of ,my llinvention and is'wellfadapteditotmeetzthevconditions of practical use.

As various-'possibleienibodimentsmightbemade of the above invention, andas various `'changes might be made 'in Vthe Vembodiment Yabove vset`forth,itiis tcbe understood thatallfmatter herein described, .or-shownin :the yaccomparwing drawings, Ais to be interpreted as illustrative'and not in a limiting sense.

Having `thus 'described my invention, Ifcla'im new and vdesire to secureby'Letters Patent:AL

1. AAkey fholder consisting of Ka vhousing comprising apair'of1parallelspaced-walls and means joining the 'side 'and-inneredges of said wallsto denne an enclosed thin space,said'housingibeing elongated in va A`direction from lthe outer endto'springs' onop'positesides of saidslots, a `bridle inA saidhousing,'mean s to guide said bridlefor movement;longitudinallylof saidhousing, said Abridlebeing'positioned on the outer ends o f said springswhereby said springs urge the bridle toward theout'er end ofthe'housing, said vouter end ofthe housing' v being operi; said postbeingdisposed intheslots above the bridle,the'i nner ends ofvsaid'islotshaying' readnes'extending laterally .therefromandinwhichtthe post is slidable, said Vreaches .extending laterally adistance not less thanhalfjthe width ofthe post andslopingba'ck lin,thedirection ofthe outerend of the housing,

the tips ofisaid reaches being" closerto the spring thedirectionthereachesv extend than to the other spring;

j 1a-farei; home-il 'onsisting pia' housing comprisingja ,pair ofparallel spaced walls and means joiningthe side and inner edgesof saidwalls todeiinean enclosed thinA space, saidr housing :being elongated'in adirection from the outer "end "tothe `inner end thereof, said wallshaving 'a pair of `registered longitudinally extending slots,

a pofst, said` post being'slidablejin saidslots, a

fp air of elongated 'longitudinally yextending oompression coil `springswithin said housing, means tolocate said springs' on opposite sides ofsaid slotsjlajbridle in said housing, means `to guide'said,bridleforfmovement longitudinally of said housing, saidbridlebeing positioned on the outer 1ends of said springs 'wherebysaid springsurge the bridle toward theouter end of the housing, said outer endlofthe housing being open, said postbeing disposed in the slots above thebridle,

the inner ends of said slots having reaches extending laterallytherefrom and in which the post -isslidablegsaid reaches extendinglaterally a dstance not less than half the width of the post, the tipsof said reaches being closer tothe spring in the ,direction the reachesextend than ,to the otherjspring.

[,13. Alkeipholder consisting of va housing oomprisinga'jpair'ofparallel spaced'walls and means joining the side and inner edges of saidwalls to dene an enclosed thin space, said housing being elongated in adirection from the outer end to the inner end thereof, said walls havinga pair of registered longitudinally extending slots, a post, said postbeing slidable in said slots, a pair of elongated longitudinallyextending compression coil springs within said housing, means to locatesaid springs on opposite sides of said slots, a bridle in said housing,means to guide said bridle for movement longitudinally of said housing,said bridle being positioned on the outer ends of said springs wherebysaid springs urge the bridle toward the outer end of the housing, saidouter end of the housing being open, said post being disposed in theslots above the bridle, the inner ends of said slots having reachesextending laterally therefrom and in which the post is slidable, thetips of said reaches being closer to the spring in the direction thereaches extend than to the other spring.

4. A key holder consisting of a housing comprising a pair of parallelspaced Walls and means joining the side and inner edges of said walls todefine an enclosed thin space, said housing being elongated in adirection from the outer end to the inner end thereof, said -'walls'havin a-'pa'ir o f registered lon''gitudinally' V extendingL slot's, apost,' sa`id postfbeing slidable in said slots-,"'t he inneiends o fsaid slots' havingreachesA extending laterally therefrom and in 4'whichthe postis slid'- able," said reaches extending laterally distance notless Vthan lonehalf-th'e Width of the post, a bridle with'insaid housingbeneath said- 'post, meansloosely to guidesaid bridle'fo'r movementlongitudinally 'of said housingQandjm'eans within saidhousing forresiliently urging-said bridle to- Ward the openendvof the housing, saidAniearis exerting a forceon the bridle fatapoint whichfis onthe side of`the post away from the reaches when thefpost is at the inner ends ofthe slotsf 5. A key' holder' consisting of aj housing corniprising apair `of parallel spaced walls-and means.

4joining the side Vandinneredges of said walls to define anenclosed'thin space, said'housing'being elongated in a direction fromtheouter-end 'to the inner end thereof; said walls having a, pairf'ofregistered longitudinally extending slotsia post, said post beingslidable in said slots, 'a pair of elongated longitudinally extendingcompression coil springs within said housing, channels insaid housinglocating vsaid'springs on opposite sides of said slots a bridle in saidhousing, said bridle having elements' slidable in said channels wherebysaid vbri-dle is guided for movement longitudinally of said housing,saidl bridlev being positioned onthe outer ends of `said springs,whereby said springs urge the bridle toward the outer end of thefhousing, said outer end of the housing being open,- ysaid post beingdisposed in the slots above the bridle, the inner ends of said'slotshav*- ing reaches extending laterally therefrom and in which the post isslidable,said reaches extending laterally a distanejnotless thanhalfthewidth oi the post andy s loping back in thedirection of the outerend 'ofj the housing, the, tipsjoff said reaches being closer to the'spring in the direction the reaches extendthan to' the otherl spring.

joining the side .and inner-edges`oiv saidH walls to ,denne an enclosed/thin spa'ce,.s aid,housing being elongated in 'a direction fromthejouterend to the inner end thereof, said walls having a .pair ofV.registered longitudinally extending 'slot s,1 `a post, said post beingslidabley in said slots, apair of elongated longitudinally extendingcompression coil springs within said housing, channels in said housinglocating said springs on opposite sides oi' said slots, a bridle in saidhousing, said bridle having elements slidable in said channels wherebysaid bridle is guided for movement longitudinally of said housing, saidbridle being positioned on the outer ends of said springs, whereby saidsprings urge the bridle toward the outer end of the housing, said outerend of the housing being open, said post being disposed in the slotsabove the bridle, the inner ends of said slots sloping gradually intoreaches extending laterally therefrom and in which the post is slidable,said reaches extending laterally a distance not less than half the widthof the post and sloping back in the direction of the outer end of thehousing, the tips of said reaches being closer to the spring in thedirection the reaches extend than to the other spring.

7. A key holder consisting of a housing comprising a pair of parallelspaced walls and means joining the side and inner edges of said walls todefine an enclosed thin space, said housing being elongated in adirection from the outer end snoeien-1.

tothe inner end thereof, said-walls having a pair .ofregisteredlongitudinally .extending slots, .a `fpostgsaid post being slidable invsaidslotssa vpair of zelongated longitudinally -extending compression.coi-l. springs within said housing, ,means to glocateisaid.springs-onopposite sides .of said slots, a bridle ,in said housing, means to guidesaid bridle for-movement longitudinally of .-said housing, said -bridlebeing `positioned on the outerends of said springs whereby vsaid-springsurge .the .bridle toward .the .outer .end of the housing, said :outer`.endof the housingv being open, saidpost being ldisposed inthe slotsabove the bridle, .theinner endsof saidslots having reaches extendinglaterally therefrom Aand. in `Which the. post :is .slid- .able, thetipsrof said reaches beingcloser to .the spring :in .the Adirection the.reaches :extend than 4.to the .other spring, said housinghaving an openindentation. Von .the side thereof toward which fthe .reaches extend,the tang of .akey carried. by the ,post vbeing visible .through saidindentation and being.,accessibletherethrough when .the .post

located insa-id reaches..

8. .A key holder consistingof a housingcomprising apairof parallelspacedv wallsandmeans joining the .side and inner edges .of .said Walls.to .define ,an enclosed. thin space, said housing .being elongated. inya .direction .from the .outer .end to .the inner Yend thereof, .saidwalls having .a pair of .registered longitudinally extending slots, .alpost. ,having .heads on both .ends thereof, .said .post 'being slidable.in .said slots, a ,pair .ciclon- .gated longitudinally .extendingcompression `coil .springs `withinsaid housing, .means .to .locate Ysaidsprings Von opposite sides of. .said slots, a .bridle virl-,saidhousing, means to guidesaid bridle for .movement .longitudinally of.said housing, said ,bridle being. positioned on .the outer .endsofsa'id .springs whereby said springs urge .the bridle toward the .outerend .of .the housing, said .outer end of thehousing being open, .saidApost being .disposed, in the slots above the bridle, theinner endsofsaidslots having .reaches extending laterally .therefrom and in whichthe post .is slidable, said Yreaches extending laterally a distance notless than half `.the Width of the post and sloping back in. the.direction of .theouter end of thehousing, the tips of said reachesbeing .closer to .the spring .in vthe direction the reaches extend Ythanto the other spring, said housnghaving an open inden- I Cil 8 tationHon. the .side .thereof .toward which the .reaches extend, thetangoiakey carriedby'the post being visible through `said indentationand being accessible therethrough when 'the post is .flocated in .saidreaches.

;ing elongated .in .a direction .from .the outer .end

to the .inner .end thereof, .said Walls .having .a

,pair of registered longitudinally extending slots,

afp.ost,.said post -beingslidable in said.slots,.a.pair

.of .elongated vlongitudinally .extending compres.- ..sion...coi1springs. within said housing, .channels iin rsaid housing locatingsaidsprings .on `opposite .sides .of saidslots, a. .bridle insaidhousing, said bridle having lelementsslidable in said channelswhereby .said .bridle .is guided yfor movement `lon.-

`:gitudinally of said housing, .said bridle'being .po-

sitioned on the .outerends of.said springs. whereby said springs urgethe bridle toward .the outer end ofthe housingsaidwouter.end ofthehousing being open, said .post-being .disposed .in .the

slots above -the bridle, .the inner ends of .saidlslots slopinggradually .into reaches .extending vlaterallytherefrom and in which .thepostis-slidable, said reaches extending laterally .a distance not 'lessthanhalf the Width of. the Vpost and .slop- .ing vback .in the direction.of the outer end of the housing, the tips of said. reaches.being..closer to the spring in the direction thereachesextend thantothe other spring. saidhousing having an .open indentation .on v.theside thereof toward `which the ,reaches extend, the tang .oiakey .car-

ried bythe post being visible through saidindenftation. andA being.accessible .therethrough when therpost is located in. said reaches.

SAMUEL aerienneons CITED The following :references are .of record in`.the file-of this patent:

A VUNITED STATES `PAIlilllTS Number Name lDate .2,908,398 Mangan...Jll1y 16 1935 2,393,373 Hendrix .Jall- 22, .19.4.6

